[brewlikeamonkey]

Found this entertaining.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/beard-beer-rogue-ales-yeast-john-maier_n_1917119.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=660851,b=facebook

[Wheat_Brewer]

As interesting as that is....it's more revolting. 

[brewmonk]

As interesting as that is....it's more revolting. 

+1
The name doesn't help either.  Especially since I really didn't like the "old" one either. 
Ironically, I'd still be willing to try it.  It sounds better than chicha.

[tomsawyer]

I'd worry about avian flu.

Rogue brewer John Maier had a beard, and said, 'It is just as I feared! Two Owls and a Hen, Four Larks and a Wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!'

[beersk]

Wonder how much this beer will go for, $10 a bomber?
Can anyone explain to me why Rogue is so much more expensive than most other beer? It's not even THAT good.

[majorvices]

I asked John Maier about that at NHC this year and he was clearly tired of talking about it.

[Kaiser]

from http://rogue.com/rogue-wire-service/blog/2012/06/20/beard-beer/:

To the shock of the experts at White Labs, the beard samples had produced a yeast strain that was perfect for use in brewing. Additional testing was conducted and confirmed that the yeast strain was not Rogue’s yeast. White Labs’ Chris White said “we were shocked and thrilled with this remarkable discovery.

I don't think there is anything surprising about this. the guy works in a brewery. Of course there is yeast in his beer. When I have done wort stability tests in the past, many times the stuff that ended up growing was yeast.

And I'm also not surprised that there wasn't yeast in the hop yard. What would the yeast grow on? hop cones?

Kai

[denny]

I asked John Maier about that at NHC this year and he was clearly tired of talking about it.

Yep.  In his speech at the dinner he even said "Don't ask me about the beard yeast".

[brewlikeamonkey]

So if you forgot to make a starter just wait till the wort is cooled and pour a bit through you beard.  Should do the trick.

[tcanova]

Yeah this doesn't help craft beer's image with the general public.  I'm thinking back to the BWW's commercial when the home brewer tells his friend his is 'special' and thinking back, that guy had a beard too...